Automatic switch lock for railway switches



Jan. 22, 1929. I 1,699,966

L. N. HANSELL AUTOMATIC SWITCH LOOK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Aug. 8,1927 INVENTOR Iv BY 1 wn'ussam ATTOR N EY Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

ATENT rFIcE.

L'ANNES N. HANSELL, 0F SANFORD, FLORIDA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH LOOK FOR RAILW'AY SWITCHES.

Application filed August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,489.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic switch locks forrailway switches.

The primary object of the inventionresides in a means by which theactuating lever of a railway switch may be automatically locked in setposition where it is prevented from accidentally swinging to an oppositeposi tion during the passage of a fast moving train over the switch, theresult of which is frequently the cause of serious train wrecks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic switch lockfor preventing a switch from being left partly open or cocked, thusassuring absolute safety, and which switch cannot be operated by anunauthorized person as the same is key con trolled, thus insuring theoperation of the same by an authorized person having the necessary key.I

A further object is the provision of an automatic switch lock which issimple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and positive inoperation.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certainnovel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, theessential features of which are hereinafter fully described, areparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of aswitch stand showing my invention thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the switchactuating lever and lock mechanism.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10designates a railway switch stand which includes the usual base 11,vertical sliding and turnably mounted collar 12, and rotatable signalpost or support 13. The switch actuating lever is shown at 14:, one endof which is bifurcated as at 15 to provide spaced arms 16, the ends ofwhich are pivoted to the bottom of the signal post 13 as at 17. Theouter free end of the lever is curved outwardly as at 18 and serves asthe manipulating portion, the extreme end of the same having a ballweight 19 thereon for normally holding the lever in a down position.Links 20 have one end pivoted to the lever adjacent the pivoted endthereof, while the other ends are pivoted to the collar 12 foroperativelyconnecting the collar with the actuating lever. In switchesof this kind, it is necessary to lift the lever to a. horizontalposition before it is possible to impart rotation to the collar whichcollar 111 turn actuates the switch mechanism. This construction ispresent in hand switches now used on railways so that a detailexplanation of the construction is not believed necessary.

For locking the lever in a set position, that is, either with the switchopen or closed, I provide arcuate shaped lug or tongue 21 which extendshorizontally from the collar 12 and which is cast therewith. The topedge of the tongue is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 22 forco-acting engagement with a latch bolt now to be explained.

Mounted in the bifurcation 15 of the actuating lever 14 is a lockmechanism 23 disposed on a plane above the tongue 21 when the lever isin a down position. The lock mech anism comprises a casing or housing 24fitted and fixedly supported between the arms 16, and in which avertically slidable latch bolt 24 is mounted for extension through anopening 25 in the bottom of the lock casing. A spring 26 bears againstthe latch bolt to normally extend the same beyond the lock casing and inthe path of the ratchet teeth 22, so as to automatically engage theratchet teeth when the lever is in a down position. Outward movement ofthe latch bolt is limited by a shoulder 26 provided thereon forengagement with the bottom of the lock casing. The outer side wall ofthe lock casing is provided with a key hole slot 27 for the in-' sertionof a key 28 which engages a ward 29 in the latch bolt to facilitate ofthe retraction of the latch bolt when it is desired to lift the lever toswing the collar 12 and signal post 13 to a set position. After thelever has been swung clear of the tongue 21, the key may be removed, andupon release of the lever, the weight 19 will automatically swing thelever to a'down position for automatic locking engagement of the latchbolt with one of the ratchet teeth 22.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided anautomatic switch lock by which a railway switch may be locked in anygiven set position, thus assuring absolute safety in preventing theswitchbeing left partly set or cooked. The invention dispenses with theusual practice of using a padlock for holding the lever in a lockedposition and which through negligence, may not be replaced and properlylocked.

\Vhile I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodimentof my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be variedwithout in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and Ithere fore do not limit myself to the exact retails of constructionherein set forth nor to anything less than the Whole 0t my inventionlimited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. A railway switch lock comprising anactuating lever and an actuatable part of a railway switcln a 111extending from said last named part having a series of ratchet; teeththereon, a lock mechanism mounted on said lever including a verticallypositioned spring pressed latch bolt disposed in the path of saidratchet teeth for engagement therewith, and

a weight on the outer end of said actuating lever whereby the lever willbe moved by Y gravity into locking engagement with the ratchet teethwhen released by an operator, substantially as set forth.

2. A railway switch lock comprising a pivoted bifurcated actuating leverand a part actuated thereby, an areuate lug extending from said lastnamed part and having a series of ratchet teeth thereon, a keycontrolled lock mechanism mounted within the bifurcation in the saidactuating lever, said loch mechanism including a latch boltmov: ble byfl'ravity assisted by a spring into the path OI said ratchet teeth forengagement therewith, and a weight on the outer end of said leverwhereby the lever will normally hold the switch in locked posititm,substantially is set forth.

In testimony whereot I hereby ailix my signature.

LANNES N. HiiNFyELL.

